How to Change the Grease Seals on a 1990 Ford F-150

Changing just the grease seals on a 1990 Ford F-150 infers grease being slung out on the knuckle. This is not a common problem, which most likely is caused by improper installation. Repacking the wheel bearings is necessary prior to the installation of the seals. If excessive grease is being expelled, the bearings must be inspected for wear due to lack of grease. Normally, grease expelled from the rear grease seals is due to overtightening the bearings, which doesnt allow the bearings to expand as they heat up, which turns the consistency of the grease to that of a liquid. The seals will not contain grease in this state.

Instructions

1

Loosen the lug nuts on the front wheels with the lug wrench. One full turn is sufficient. The lug nuts will be difficult to break loose when the tire is no longer in contact with the ground. Raise the truck with the floor jack. Place a jack stand under the frame just to the rear of the front tire. Lower the truck so it rests on the jack stands. Continue removing the lug nuts on the front wheels. Remove the front wheels.

2

Place a common screwdriver between the inner (engine side) brake pad and the rotor. Pry the inner brake pad away from the rotor slightly, which in turn forces the caliper piston into its bore making the caliper easy to remove.

3

Remove the two 13 mm caliper support bolts using a socket. Lift the caliper off the rotor. Dont let it hang by its hose or you will damage the hose. Hang the caliper from the coil spring on the truck using a length of wire.

4

Use an 18 mm socket to remove the two bolts securing the caliper mounting bracket and lay the bracket with brake pads installed aside. Remove the grease cup from the spindle hub using the removal tool.

5

Straighten out the cotter pin in the tip of the spindle and remove it with the wire cutters. Pull the spindle lock off the spindle nut. Remove the spindle nut by turning it counterclockwise with the large adjustable wrench. While youre at it, pay attention to the amount of force needed to remove the spindle nut. It should have very little torque to allow the bearings to expand. A lot of torque explains the leakage of grease through the seals. When the spindle nut is removed a front washer and the outer thrust bearing will fall out easily, so prepare to catch the two when the rotor is moved outward. Lay them on a clean cloth.

6

Install the spindle nut a few threads. Grab the rotor and, with a small downward pressure, yank the rotor off with one quick motion. The result is the rear bearing and grease seal is left hanging on the spindle.

7

Place some grease in the palm of your hand, and take each bearing, one at a time, with the wide end in your palm. Drag the bearing through the grease rotating it each pass until grease is visible in all the bearings.

8

Lay the rotor face down (outside small bearing down). Install the large bearing into the race in the rear of the rotor. Place the grease seal carefully over the rotor opening. Gently tap the grease seal down, alternating the strikes around the circumference until the seal is flush.

9

Lift and push the rotor on the spindle. Hold it straight and install the small outer bearing followed by the washer, topped off by the spindle nut. Seat the bearings with the large adjustable wrench. Turn the spindle nut clockwise until considerable resistance is felt. Spin the rotor one time and loosen the spindle nut one half turn. Tighten it again and rotate the rotor again. Loosen the spindle nut one half turn counterclockwise.

10

Place the spindle nut lock over the nut and install the cotter pin. Install the grease cup and tap it on with the hammer. Install the caliper mounting bracket and bolts. Torque them to 85 foot-pounds. Pinch the pads against the rotor by hand. Lower the caliper over the rotor and align the holes and insert the caliper mounting bolts. Tighten them to 38 foot-pounds of torque.

11

Install the tire/wheel combination and tighten the lug nuts sufficiently, then lower the truck. Tighten the lug nuts to 110 foot-pounds of torque.